Witness gets 10 months for changing testimony

TAMPA -- A former defense contractor was sentenced to 10 months in prison for violating his probation by changing his testimony in a bribery conspiracy case involving U.S. Special Operations Command.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew agreed to defer the sentence for 51-year-old William E. Burke until a higher court rules on his appeal of the perjury conviction that triggered the probation violation.

In 2005, Bucklew sentenced Burke to probation in exchange for his cooperation in a case against special operations contractor and retired U.S. Army Col. Tom Spellissy. Burke told the judge he accepted $4,500 to give preferential treatment to Spellissy's clients.

But during Spellissy's trial, Burke said no illegal action took place. He said he was pressured by federal agents into pleading guilty. A judge threw out most of the case and Spellissy was sentenced to 15 months in prison on a conspiracy charge. Burke's lawyer said Burke's understanding of the case changed after he accepted the plea deal.